NMC Presents: Sarah Slean with Strings

Schedule

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique | Calgary, AB

Advertisement
Experience an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling as Sarah Slean, one of Canada’s most compelling and multifaceted artists, takes the stage with a string quartet at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre.
This intimate concert will showcase Slean’s signature blend of poetic songwriting and classically inspired arrangement, brought to life with the accompaniment of a live string quartet. Drawing from her expansive body of work — including 11 album releases, two volumes of poetry, and award-winning chamber compositions — Slean delivers a spellbinding performance that is as emotionally stirring as it is musically sophisticated.
---
Doors: 6:30 pm. Show: 7:30 pm.
Tickets: $50
NMC Members get 15% off.
---
About Sarah Slean:
Signed to Atlantic/Warner Records at the tender age of nineteen, 4-time JUNO nominee and modern-day Renaissance woman Sarah Slean has since released 11 albums in over 10 countries worldwide – but perhaps the most astonishing aspect of her artistry is its breadth. Over her 25-year career, Slean has published two volumes of poetry, starred in short films and a movie musical (spawning two Gemini Award nominations), penned award-winning chamber works, held numerous exhibitions of her paintings and performed with 14 of the country’s professional orchestras. Classically trained from the age of 5, she routinely collaborates with cutting-edge contemporary classical ensembles like The Art of Time, and has been invited to sing world premieres by Canada’s leading living composers. She composes orchestral arrangements for her own music as well as for her pop colleagues (Dan Mangan, Hawksley Workman) and her recent collaborative recording with the Symphony Nova Scotia was just nominated for both an East Coast Music Award and a JUNO Award in the Classical Album category (2021). Sarah is also a recent alumna of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre's screen composing residency (2017-8) and just earned her first Canadian Screen Award (2021). She can also be heard on the CBC's national hybrid pop/classical radio program "About Time" as an occasional host.
Citing such diverse influences as Leonard Bernstein, philosophy, Joni Mitchell, Buddhism and Bach, her music borrows aspects of cabaret, pop, and orchestral: all knit together by the startling poetry of her lyrics, unique arranging and piano-playing, and that voice, described by the CBC as “a 19th century Kate Bush”. In addition to headlining theatres across Canada, Sarah has also toured Europe, the US and Scandinavia and has opened internationally for such artists as Bryan Ferry, Rufus Wainwright, Alanis Morissette, Andrew Bird, Feist, Ron Sexsmith, and Chris Isaak. Her 11th solo recording "Metaphysics", released in 2017, is described as a "breathtaking amalgamation of Slean’s dramatic orchestral arranging and her signature take on songwriting". In 2023, Sarah completed a Masters Degree in Composition and will be composing the music for the stage musical adaptation of the award-winning film "Maudie."
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique, 850 - 4 Street SE,Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

Host or Publisher National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Calgary

Fall Line Dance Party
Sat, 25 Oct at 07:00 pm Fall Line Dance Party

Marlborough Park Community Association

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
Robin King's Elvis Tribute Show
Sat, 25 Oct at 07:00 pm Robin King's Elvis Tribute Show

9202 Horton Road S.W., Calgary, AB, Canada, Alberta T2V 2X4

Mike Miles Muay Thai \u2013 Armageddon
Sat, 25 Oct at 07:00 pm Mike Miles Muay Thai – Armageddon

11500 35 St SE # 1000, Calgary, AB, Canada, Alberta T2Z 3W4

Calgary's Ultimate Retro Adult Halloween Party in Support of AARCS!
Sat, 25 Oct at 07:00 pm Calgary's Ultimate Retro Adult Halloween Party in Support of AARCS!

Wyckham House

HALLOWEEN HALLOWEEN-PARTIES
Halloween Howler at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino
Sat, 25 Oct at 08:00 pm Halloween Howler at Grey Eagle Resort and Casino

Grey Eagle Resort and Casino

HALLOWEEN CONTESTS
The Glorious Sons in Calgary
Sat, 25 Oct at 08:00 pm The Glorious Sons in Calgary

Grey Eagle Event Centre

CONCERTS MUSIC
Anna Pietrzak
Sat, 25 Oct at 08:00 pm Anna Pietrzak

Knox Presbyterian Church

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Calgary: Black Bull Pub - Slasher Movie Trivia - Oct 25, 8pm
Sat, 25 Oct at 08:00 pm Calgary: Black Bull Pub - Slasher Movie Trivia - Oct 25, 8pm

Black Bull Pub

ENTERTAINMENT
21st Annual Sisters in Spirit March & Vigil
Sat, 04 Oct at 10:30 am 21st Annual Sisters in Spirit March & Vigil

Downtown Calgary

OPEN-MIC
Calgary Poetry Slam's ANARCHY SLAM ft. MelVee X
Mon, 06 Oct at 06:30 pm Calgary Poetry Slam's ANARCHY SLAM ft. MelVee X

Dickens

ART LITERARY-ART
Mental Health\u2014on the page, in the lab, and in our community
Thu, 23 Oct at 07:00 pm Mental Health—on the page, in the lab, and in our community

Pages Books On Kensington

ART LITERARY-ART
NMC Presents: Sarah Slean with Strings
Sat, 25 Oct at 07:30 pm NMC Presents: Sarah Slean with Strings

National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique

ART ENTERTAINMENT
SYNC: Sound and Image Conference 2025
Fri, 07 Nov at 01:00 am SYNC: Sound and Image Conference 2025

Studio Bell / National Music Centre

ART BUSINESS

What's Happening Next in Calgary?

Discover Calgary Events